Research and Education

The
Stanford
Social
Innovation
Review
is
a
magazine
written
"for
and
by
social
change
leaders
in
the
nonprofit,
business,
and
government
sectors
who
view
collaboration
as
key
to
solving
environmental,
social,
and
economic
justice
issues."
Visitors
can
look
on
the
website
for
timely
articles
on
nonprofit
management,
philanthropy,
and
global
issues.
The
elegance
of
the
homepage
makes
it
quite
easy
to
navigate
and
a
handy
search
feature
makes
it
easy
to
locate
items
of
particular
interest.
A
good
deal
of
the
content
here
is
available
at
no
charge
and
users
can
scroll
on
over
to
the
Most
Read
Articles
and
Most
Read
Blog
Posts
to
get
an
idea
of
where
to
start.
Additionally,
a
number
of
webinars
are
available
at
no
charge,
such
as
the
recent,
"Data-Driven
Strategy
in
the
Social
Sector."
Visitors
can
also
explore
some
podcasts
that
deal
with
social
entrepreneurship
and
supply
chain
management.
[KMG]

Ashoka
was
founded
by
Bill
Drayton
in
1980
and
today
it
is
the
largest
network
of
social
entrepreneurs
in
the
world.
The
organization
has
almost
3,000
fellows
who
work
in
70
countries
on
a
range
of
projects.
On
the
organization's
homepage,
visitors
can
look
over
seven
different
sections,
including
Fellows,
Focus
Areas,
Engage,
and
Give.
Within
Focus
Areas,
visitors
can
look
over
projects
that
include
Nutrients
for
All
and
Full
Economic
Citizenship,
which
work
to
create
lasting
and
meaningful
change
across
a
variety
of
communities.
Also,
to
get
a
sense
of
its
work
in
action,
the
Video
Room
contains
a
number
of
short
oral
histories
and
other
videos.
For
those
interested
in
learning
more,
newsletter
subscriptions
are
an
option.
[KMG]

The
University
of
Alberta
has
several
dozen
excellent
annotated
subject
guides
for
use
by
its
academic
community.
In
an
act
of
great
benevolence,
it
has
offered
up
this
guide
to
the
world
of
anatomy
at
no
charge.
On
this
site
visitors
can
browse
through
over
a
dozen
helpful
sites
that
provide
teaching
materials,
atlases,
quizzes,
and
other
materials
that
will
help
medical
students
and
health
care
professionals.
Two
of
the
most
useful
items
here
are
the
"Cells
Alive!"
site
and
the
"eSkeletons
Project"
from
the
University
of
Texas
at
Austin.
Additionally,
users
are
encouraged
to
leave
their
own
suggestions
for
sites
that
they
feel
might
be
an
excellent
contribution
to
the
site.
[KMG]

If
you
never
thought
a
government
periodical
could
make
compelling
reading,
you
should
give
Amber
Waves
a
look.
It
happens
to
be
a
publication
of
the
United
States
Department
of
Agriculture's
Economic
Research
Service
(ERS)
and
it
deals
with
the
economics
of
food,
farming,
natural
resources,
and
rural
America.
On
its
homepage,
visitors
can
look
over
the
Features,
Findings
&
Statistics
area,
which
offers
up
commentary
and
more
on
topics
such
as
food
assistance
programs,
hog
farms,
and
food
safety.
Visitors
can
scroll
through
the
area
for
easy
access
to
a
range
of
thematic
materials
that
deal
with
everything
from
the
rural
economy
to
best
farming
practices.
It's
also
worth
noting
that
Amber
Waves
is
available
in
a
variety
of
formats,
including
quarterly
subscription
through
iTunes
or
Google
Play.
[KMG]

The Aspen Institute brings together policy makers in order to talk about the big ideas that are on the hearts and minds of people around the world. Conversations about sustainability, globalization, and other matters are all in a day's work and meditation for these people and this blog is a great way to enter some of these conversations and engage with some large and compelling discussions. Visitors to the site will find pieces on the minimum wage, public school reform, and the role of community colleges in 21st century America. If looking for a specific topic, there are dozens of headings, ranging from the Affordable Care Act to youth sports, that can be perused. [KMG]

In
1995,
the
photographer
Irving
Penn
donated
his
archives
to
the
Art
Institute
of
Chicago
(AIC).
Two
AIC
departments
-
the
Ryerson
&
Burnham
Library
and
the
Department
of
Photography
-
manage
the
paper
and
photographic
materials
in
the
Penn
archive.
This
website
presents
a
unified
view
of
the
Irving
Penn
Archives,
so
that
prints
in
the
permanent
collection
can
be
viewed
alongside
of
materials
held
in
the
photographic
and
paper
archives.
For
example,
using
one
of
Penn's
more
famous
sitters,
Pablo
Picasso,
a
user
can
view
the
portrait
"Picasso
at
La
Californie,
Cannes,
France,"
1957;
read
Penn's
notes
on
portraiture,
and
his
meeting
with
Picasso;
and
also
see
related
works
such
as
"Catalonian
dancers,"
shot
for
a
Vogue
magazine
feature,
"Picasso's
Barcelona,"
published
in
July
1949.
[DS]

Visitors
with
an
interest
in
the
operations
of
the
National
Institutes
of
Health
(NIH)
will
find
much
to
keep
their
attention
on
this
site,
where
visitors
can
learn
about
the
activities
of
the
NIH
director.
The
current
director,
Dr.
Francis
Collins,
maintains
an
ambitious
public
relations
schedule
that
finds
him
offering
expert
comment
on
a
range
of
health
policy
matters.
Through
this
video
and
sound
gallery,
visitors
can
watch
Dr.
Collins
speak
about
new
drug
testing
programs,
biomedical
research,
and
healthcare
innovation.
The
clips
are
arranged
chronologically
and
visitors
can
also
search
all
of
these
materials.
It's
a
great
way
to
stay
current
on
key
NIH
activities
and
to
learn
about
the
direction
of
this
government
agency.
[KMG]

General Interest

The
first
railroad
in
Massachusetts
was
chartered
in
1826
and
since
that
time
the
commonwealth
has
seen
dozens
of
operators
expand
and
contract
their
operations.
Interestingly
enough,
by
1836
railroad
corporations
had
to
submit
reports
of
their
activities
to
the
Secretary
of
the
Commonwealth
and
in
1871
a
Railroad
Commission
was
established
to
oversee
these
companies.
This
wonderful
digital
collection
from
the
Massachusetts
State
Library
brings
together
dozens
of
maps,
manuscripts,
and
annual
reports
related
to
the
operations
of
these
companies.
The
Maps
area
is
remarkable
as
it
features
over
270
maps
that
document
various
railroad
surveys
from
the
mid
19th
century
to
the
early
20th
century.
Moving
on,
the
Annual
Reports
area
includes
over
50
reports
from
the
Public
Service
Commission
that
provide
valuable
insights
into
railroad
operations.
The
Manuscripts
are
another
great
feature,
as
this
section
contains
a
range
of
acts
that
document
the
potential
and
realized
ambitions
of
a
range
of
small,
medium,
and
large
railroad
companies,
including
the
Dorchester
and
Milton
Extension
Railroad
Company.
[KMG]

Businesspeople,
and
anyone
with
an
interest
in
the
machinations
of
business-related
matters,
will
find
much
to
enjoy
at
the
Business
Insider
site.
The
offerings
here
include
long
form
reports,
current
news
updates,
and
topical
news
offerings
divided
into
such
themes
as
Tech,
Finance,
and
Strategy.
First-time
visitors
might
wish
to
get
started
by
looking
at
the
Trending
topics,
which
cover
everything
from
the
smart
phone
market
to
stock
performance
updates.
Visitors
are
also
welcome
to
register
online
to
receive
special
updates,
newsletters,
and
other
materials
that
might
be
of
interest.
As
a
great
feature
of
personalization,
there
is
also
an
option
to
receive
alerts
every
time
items
of
particular
topical
interest
are
added
to
the
site.
[KMG]

Many
institutions,
such
as
the
Imperial
War
Museums
in
Britain,
are
choosing
to
partner
up
with
the
Google
Cultural
Institute
to
host
digital
exhibitions
online.
On
this
corner
of
its
site,
visitors
can
explore
different
collections,
artists,
and
artworks
related
to
World
War
One.
Currently,
there
are
78
items
in
total,
including
wonderful
paintings
by
John
Singer
Sargent
and
Henry
Tonks
depicting
the
privations
and
trials
of
war.
Visitors
can
view
a
map
of
the
artworks'
geographical
locations
and
also
use
the
site
to
create
personalized
galleries.
Also,
the
Sort
Function
allows
users
to
examine
these
items
in
the
order
that
they
have
been
added.
This
is
an
especially
great
feature
for
returning
visitors.
[KMG]

Created
as
part
of
the
Regional
Plan
Association
(RPA),
America
2050
is
a
coalition
partner
of
Transportation
For
America.
As
the
national
infrastructure
planning
and
policy
program
for
the
RPA,
its
goal
is
to
provide
consult
and
leadership
on
a
broad
range
of
transportation,
sustainability,
and
economic
development
issues.
Since
its
start
in
2005,
the
RPA
has
published
a
range
of
influential
policy
papers
and
related
documents.
From
its
homepage,
visitors
can
look
over
recent
tweets
and
then
click
on
over
to
thematic
areas,
which
include
Infrastructure,
Megaregions,
and
Commentary.
The
Maps
area
is
worth
a
look,
as
well,
as
it
includes
offerings
like
"A
Phasing
Plan
for
High-Speed
Rail"
and
"Underperforming
Regions."
Moving
on,
the
Research
area
contains
dozens
of
intriguing
reports,
such
as
"New
Strategies
for
Regional
Economic
Development"
and
"Megaregions."
[KMG]

Located
in
the
Pilsen
neighborhood,
the
National
Museum
of
Mexican
Art
in
Chicago
aims
to
celebrate
the
works
of
Latina/o
artists.
If
you
can't
get
to
the
actual
museum,
its
site
has
a
range
of
information
about
its
collections,
outreach
efforts,
and
educational
programs.
The
Collections
section
introduces
visitors
to
the
various
artworks
housed
at
the
museum,
such
as
Folk
Art,
Photography,
and
Textiles,
and
lists
contributing
artists,
appraisers,
and
detailed
information
about
its
Permanent
Collection
Policy.
Moving
on,
the
Education
area
has
some
fine
resources
for
teachers
who
might
be
visiting
the
museum
without
their
students,
including
some
digital
resources
of
note.
Also,
the
site
includes
a
listing
of
special
programs,
complete
with
a
link
to
the
museum's
press
room
and
an
area
where
folks
can
sign
up
to
join
its
mailing
list.
[KMG]

What
can
you
learn
about
a
university
from
its
student
newspaper?
Certainly
it
will
capture
the
spirit
of
the
time,
the
passions
of
the
community,
and
of
course,
coverage
of
gridiron
heroes.
The
Decaturian
is
one
such
fine
daily
and
it
documented
life
at
Milliken
University
for
many
decades.
This
digital
collection
brings
together
issues
from
1903
to
1951
and
is
a
rich
repository
of
information
about
life
in
central
Illinois.
The
funds
for
this
project
came
from
a
grant
provided
by
the
Institute
of
Museum
and
Library
Services
and
visitors
can
perform
a
search
across
all
of
the
issues
here.
New
visitors
may
wish
to
start
their
exploration
with
the
March
1906
issue,
which
features
a
timely
meditation
on
the
academic
experience
titled,
"The
Value
of
Collateral
Subjects."
[KMG]

The
Arizona
Memory
Project
serves
as
a
vast
repository
of
items
related
to
the
state
of
Arizona
and
its
people.
It's
quite
impressive
as
they
have
over
100,000
items
kindly
offered
by
a
range
of
institutions
from
around
the
state.
This
wealth
of
information
can
be
a
bit
overwhelming
for
first-time
visitors
who
might
do
well
to
check
out
the
"Spotlight
On"
section.
Here,
visitors
can
get
started
with
a
few
select
items,
such
as
WPA
posters,
portraits,
and
architectural
renderings.
Folks
with
a
geographical
bent
may
wish
to
look
over
the
"Where
in
Arizona?"
interactive
map
where
visitors
can
learn
about
the
Arizona
Memory
Project's
partners,
such
as
the
Mohave
Museum
of
History
and
Arts,
and
the
items
they
have
contributed.
Also,
visitors
can
use
the
Browse
function
to
find
items
arranged
by
collection,
time
period,
or
topic.
Educators
shouldn't
miss
the
Teacher
Resources
and
the
project's
Flickr
feed
is
a
great
addition,
housing
a
trove
of
Arizona-related
images.
[KMG]

The
Digital
Scholarship
Lab
(DSL)
of
the
University
of
Richmond
has
recently
created
a
digital
version
of
a
wonderful
historical
atlas:
Charles
O.
Paullin
and
John
K.
Wright's
1932
Atlas
of
Historical
Geography
of
the
United
States.
Reproducing
nearly
700
maps,
this
digitization
project
has
enhanced
the
original
collection
and
added
the
dramatic
functionality
of
21st
century
technology,
including
an
amazing
zoom
feature.
Brave
visitors
can
start
directly
by
Entering
the
Atlas,
while
the
more
cautious
can
view
an
introductory
video
or
read
over
the
chapter
titles
to
find
specific
areas
of
interest.
There
is
much
to
peruse,
including
sections
on
The
Natural
Environment
and
Explorations
in
the
West
and
Southwest,
1535-1852.
A
number
of
maps
within
these
sections,
such
as
"French
Explorations
in
the
West
1673-1794,"
even
allow
for
time-lapse
animation.
This
site
is
a
great
find,
especially
for
educators,
historians,
geographers,
and
the
general
map
enthusiast.
[CD]

Network Tools

So you'd like to invite some friends and colleagues to an event? There are plenty of ways to accomplish this task and the Attending application can handle it with ease. Visitors don't need to sign in but can create their own free event page straight away. As the site notes, the point of this application is to help users "put on any kind of small, free, useful event." It is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]

Scissors Fly is a great way to collect and organize pieces of bric-a-brac from around the web. To help you get started, the homepage offers a great demonstration and the Explore feature shows you a beta version of what your scrapbook can look like. It's quite fun to use and interested parties can organize their clippings, edit their boards and share them with others around the world. This version is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]

Diamonds
may
be
forever,
but
it
appears
that
a
certain
zircon
has
been
around
at
least
4.4
billion
years,
which
is
a
hefty
chunk
of
time.
This
remarkable
discovery
was
reported
in
the
journal,
Nature
Geoscience,
this
week
and
the
reaction
from
the
scientific
community
was
encouraging.
As
it
turns
out,
the
ancient
crystal
was
found
in
a
sheep
ranch
in
western
Australia
back
in
2001
and
it
has
a
translucent
red
color.
Professor
John
Valley
of
the
University
of
Wisconsin
(the
lead
study
author
on
the
project)
remarked
that
ever
since
the
discovery
of
this
specimen
13
years
ago
there
had
been
significant
debate
about
its
age.
In
this
follow
up
study,
researchers
used
a
technique
called
atom-probe
tomography
which
allows
scientists
to
image
single
atoms
of
lead
and
determine
the
isotopic
ratio.
Valley
and
his
team
made
some
other
interesting
discoveries
as
a
result,
such
as
noting
that
the
surface
of
the
Earth
cooled
much
more
quickly
than
others
originally
thought.
[KMG]

The first link will take visitors to a great piece on this discovery from CNN's Elizabeth Landau. The second link will whisk users away to a similar bit of coverage, courtesy of The Independent. Moving on, interested parties will find a thoughtful behind-the-scenes look at this story from NPR's Morning Edition. The fourth link will take users to the aforementioned Nature Geoscience journal's site that contains a preview of the scientific article on this discovery. The fifth link will whisk users away to a great article from the American Museum of Natural History on how scientists date zircon. On a related note, the last link leads to a fine explanation of how carbon-14 dating works, courtesy of the folks at How Stuff Works.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed
in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the
National Science Foundation.

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The Scout Report (ISSN 1092-3861) is
published every Friday of the year except the last Friday of December by
Internet Scout, located in the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department
of Computer Sciences. Funding sources have included the National Science
Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Libraries.